THERE is a new look to the National Trust's Art Gallery at Colby Woodland Gardens this year. Besides the on-going exhibition of paintings by local artists, there will also be a selection of local crafts on sale, with the opportunity periodically to see the craftsmen and women at work.

In addition, the small gallery will host fortnightly exhibitions throughout the season, promising an exciting and varied programme. Visitors will be able to see a high standard of original work on display, including photography, quilting, embroidery, weaving and spinning, interspersed with regular exhibitions of paintings.

Starting off the season on March 23 will be 'Mother and Daughter', a collection of paintings by Carol Thomas and Rebecca Brinton. Both are well-established in the county; Carol ran Saundersfoot Pottery (and latterly the Tenby Pottery Studio) for over 30 years, and Rebecca is an artist and teacher based in Narberth.

Carol, who trained originally at Wolverhampton College of Art, has been painting successfully in water colours for many years, but has now branched out into oils under her daughter's expert instruction. She delights in having more time to devote to painting since giving up the pottery business, but her potter's wheel is never far away - her studio is now in her house - and she continues to supply many craft outlets in the area, including Colby.

She is a member of 'Pembrokeshire Craftmakers', who mount exhibitions throughout the county, and many of whose members also have work on display at Colby.

Carol regularly takes Pembrokeshire's much loved coastal and countryside scenery as subjects for her delicately produced paintings - for her, as for many of us - her county is her inspiration.

Rebecca took part in the popular TV series 'Watercolour Challenge' last autumn, and has recently returned from London where a painting of Carew Castle was on exhibit at The Mall Gallery. Her painting of the Rose Window in St. David's Cathedral was selected for this year's Eisteddfod, and although the original has now been sold, the prints are still available as part of the local appeal fund. These, and the Carew Castle original will be included in her exhibition at Colby.

Rebecca worked in London and New York after attending Carmarthen College of Technology and Art. Working for Berman's Theatrical Costumiers, she designed clothes for many well-known period dramas, including 'Sherlock Holmes', 'Upstairs Downstairs', 'Madam Bovary' and 'The Darling Buds of May'.

In New York, as a stylist in the music business, Madonna, Danni Minogue and Prince were among her clients.

Back home in Pembrokeshire, however, is where Rebecca is content to work now. She runs classes in life drawing, oil, and mixed media at Tenby's Greenhill Community Education Centre, as well as offering private tuition from her own studio in Narberth. Her paintings can be seen at Art Matters, Tenby, and annually in Narberth Queen's Hall Open Exhibition, as well as many other venues throughout the county, including Colby's main gallery.

'Mother and Daughter' runs from Saturday, March 23 to Friday, April 5 inclusive at Colby Woodland Gardens.

A special promotional 'two for the price of one' admission to the gardens is available now to anyone presenting this article at the entrance.

The gallery is open from 10 am to 5 pm daily until November 4.